by Lisa Rector
“Thank the Master. I’ve had enough dealings with Cysgod to last an eternity.”
Einion regarded her with confusion.
Catrin shook her head. “Stories for another time. Does Meuric know about this?”
“Not yet. I will talk to him now,” Einion said.
“Well, I’m off,” Trahaearn said. “Things to do, err, eat.”
Catrin laughed. “See you later, Trahaearn.”
He exited with a whoosh of wind.
“Catrin, I know what you’re thinking. Life won’t be simple. You want to go home, but Meuric is needed here.”
“I was afraid you’d say this. I have another choice to make.” Catrin paused and glanced at the floor. “I hate this land. It’s ugly and stinks of sulfur. I want to go home and be with Cerys, but I will not be parted from Meuric. I love him.”
“I know, Catrin. We’ll make this work. I will make it work for you. I’ll talk to Meuric.” Einion retreated down the hall.
Catrin watched him leave. She felt a peculiar twinge. “Einion!” He turned, and she ran to him, flinging her arms around his neck. He returned the hug by wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off her feet. “I’m happy you didn’t die.” She cried, the tears of relief finally coming. “That was my worst fear. That you were dead.”
“Shh, Catrin. Shh.” Einion rubbed her back. “I’m here. I’m here. I didn’t die.”
***
When Einion and Catrin entered the room, Meuric noticed two details about Catrin’s mood. One, she had resolved issues with Einion. This much was evident in her smile. The other was evident in her countenance.
Meuric stood. “What now? Einion, what did you say to Catrin?” His fists clenched at his side.
Rhianu grabbed his hand. “Easy, Meuric. It’s not what you think.”
Einion held up his hands. “It’s no reason to be violent. Refrain from your desire to pound me to a pulp. I need to speak with you.” Einion gestured to the door, indicating for Meuric to follow him.
Meuric spared Rhianu a glance.
“It’s fine. Catrin will sit with me and Rhosyn,” Rhianu said. “Go. You should talk.”
Catrin spoke up. “I’ll sit with her, Meuric. Go.”
“All right, everyone’s privy to something I’m not. Out with it,” Meuric grumbled.
Rhianu pushed him forward. “I asked Einion to speak with you. Go with him.”
“Fine.” Meuric gave Catrin an inquiring look as he followed Einion out of the bedchamber. She answered his pleading with a shake of her head. A shimmering tear had sprung to the corner of her eye.
Great, someone must be dead, Meuric said.
Brace yourself, Meuric, Derog said. Einion has to talk with you about a matter of great importance. I know you have plans. You can’t stop dreaming of Catrin as your wife. I understand this, but you’re needed.
I’m marrying her, Derog. Nothing will prevent me.
I’m not saying that. I think you’ll have to adjust your dreams of following her to Gorlassar.
No.
They entered a small chamber, which was once a sitting room with a cozy hearth. A heavy wooden desk was laden with papers and maps.
“Your study now?” Meuric asked.
“Yes,” Einion said. “It’s difficult to manage my kingdom from here. Messengers come and go daily, but I need to be there. When Rhianu is well, she’ll come home with me. Home to Terrin as my queen.”
“What about Morvith? Rhianu can’t just leave her country.”
“Meuric, she no longer rules. Much has changed. I have a lot to tell you. Her lords renounced her. Siana is attempting to preserve the peace.”
“Peace? What’s going on?” Meuric didn’t like where this conversation was headed.
“Your provinces are at war. The lords are squabbling over trivial matters and complaining about maltreatment during Rhianu’s rule. Half of them want retribution.”
“And the other half?” Meuric asked.
“The other half wants you to rule them.”
That was the dragon scale waiting to drop. It landed with a thud, which reverberated through Meuric’s heart-center.
“No,” he said. “I will not.”
Einion leaned forward over the desk, bracing himself with his hands. “Your people need you. Your men trust you. They’ll have no one else.”
Meuric pounded his fist on the table. “Where do they think I’ve been? Didn’t they think I was dead? Llywelyn can rule. He was my second.”
“Llywelyn is leading the uprising.”
“This can’t be. We trusted each other. I took a sword to the stomach for him, that traitor.”
“That imbecile aside, Meuric. Do you understand what I’m asking?”
“Curse you, Einion. You know what this will do to Catrin. She wants to go home. Home! Her heart dwells in Gorlassar. She hates this forsaken land. I’m prepared to go with her! Don’t ask me to do this to her. She has suffered enough.”
“Yes, remind me to ask you about her suffering sometime. I almost believe you deserve to be beaten to within an inch of your life. What happened to Catrin?”
Meuric growled. “Now is not the time to delve into what happened to Catrin, Einion. You cannot even begin to imagine what we’ve been through—more than your little anguishing fight with the Dark Master.”
“Relax, Meuric. We’re on the same side. We need to resolve our differences for Rhianu and Catrin. We love both of them. We’ll be a part of each other’s lives from here out. Can you handle this?”
“Yes.”
“Catrin has already made her choice, Meuric. You just have to make yours,” Einion said.
Meuric gaped at his brother-in-law. “She has?”
“Yes, she has.”
***
Meuric found Catrin at the end of the hallway as she stared out the balcony window. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I can’t believe I can do this. Catrin, you’ve tried my patience for so long, and I can’t tell you how good this feels to hold you and share my true feelings.” He nuzzled her neck with his nose. A teal dragon stone gleamed, alone, without the orange one, against her creamy skin. “You returned Einion’s dragon stone.”
Catrin smiled. “Trahaearn’s too much of a burden to have in my head. That dragon is hyperactive.”
Meuric laughed. “Speaking of voices in one’s head. I heard a voice when I was healing Rhianu.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Was it female?”
“Now that you mention it, yes.”
Catrin nodded. “Meinwen.”
“Meinwen?” Meuric traced his fingers up and down Catrin’s arms. “How?”
“She can communicate telepathically.”
“How did she know I needed help?”
“She knows everything. She’s our seer. Our mouthpiece for Deian.”
That made sense. “I called out to Deian. I asked for his help.”
“And Meinwen’s assistance was how he replied.”
Catrin turned around to face Meuric. “I’m proud of you.”
“Why?”
“You faced your fears. You used your light and saved Rhianu and your daughter. You’re amazing.”
“I had a demanding tutor.”
Catrin tried to pinch his ribs, but Meuric trapped her hand against himself. “I have to meet Meinwen, don’t I?”
“Uh-huh. She needs to bestow her blessing for our union.”
Meuric caressed her jaw. “Our union. That makes me so pleased to hear you say that.”
“You’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.”
“What are you saying? Who says I wouldn’t like that?” Meuric gazed out the window at the smoldering mountain covered in scraggily shrubs and dead trees. He ached for green grass and gargantuan magical trees. Catrin would hate living here.
She shrugged. “My home is wherever your home is.”
“You’d be willing to stay here with me? What about Cerys an
d her egg? What about Gorlassar and your bees?” His fingers found their way into her clean hair, which was flowing to her waist.
“I’ll make a few visits. I’m not… missing the hatching. I’ll bring bees… here, in the south. You said… the land is greener there. Maybe we could find… a nice estate.” She pushed at his chest. “Will you stop that?”
He had been lining her jaw with whispering kisses, making speech difficult. “Anything for you,” he breathed—a smidge too heavily.
Catrin drummed playfully on Meuric’s chest. She cocked her head to the side and fluttered her lashes, teasing him.
He locked his eyes with hers. “Oh, Cat.”
“What?”
Meuric furrowed his brow. “Other than Meinwen and Gorlassar, we have one other trip to make.”
Slight alarm crawled over her face. “Where?”
“You have to meet my daughter.”
“I don’t see why that’s an issue.”
“You haven’t met her. Let’s just say she takes after me.”
“Why then, let’s go. I can’t wait.”
Meuric crushed her to his chest. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Pressure filled him, and his vision dimmed. Catrin’s grip tightened on his biceps as they whipped through the ether once again.
The End.
Notable Figures & Pronunciation Guide
Aeron • EYE ren (carnage, slaughter) One of Einion’s lords
Aerona • EYE rona (carnage, slaughter) Rhianu’s dragon
Ahnalyn • ah NA lin (from the graceful lake) Einion’s mother
Aneirin • an EYE rin (modest, noble) Catrin’s brother
Arthfael • ARTH vile (bear chief, warrior prince) Hyledd’s regent
Beli • BEL i (shining) Tegyd
Betrys • BET rees (voyager through life) Eilian
Blodeuyn • blo WETH in (flower) High Dragoness
Braith • br AI th (diversely colored) Eilian
Brenin • BRE nin (king) Einion’s father
Cadfan • CAD vyle: (battle raven) Master Guardsman
Cadoc • KAH doc (battle) Successor of Rolant
Caedryn • CADE rin (battle lord) Lord of Rolant
Caledu • ka LED u: (hardened) Niawen’s father
Catrin • CA trin (pure) Aneirin’s sister
Cephias • see FEE us (rock) Aneirin’s dragon
Cerys • KER is (love) Catrin’s dragon
Derog • DE rog (the obstinate one) Meuric’s dragon
Dewydd • DE vid (beloved) Eilian
Dylis • DIL lees (genuine, steadfast, true) Eilian
Efa • AY va (life) dragon in Gorlassar
Einion • eye NEE on (anvil) Ahnalyn’s son
Ellena • EL e na (torch of light) Regent’s daughter
Emlyn • EM lin (work) Eilian
Gethen • GETH en: (dark, swarthy) Caedryn’s general
Glyndwr • GLIND ur: (valley water) Lord of the Dragons
Glynis • GLIN is (holy, pure) Tegyd
Hadyn • HAY den (little fire) Eilian
Ithel • IH TH ehl (generous lord) Aneirin and Catrin’s father
Kelyn • KEL in (holly) Sieffre’s son
Meinwen • MINE wen (slender and fair) Aneirin and Catrin’s mother
Meuric • MY rik (dark-skinned Moor) Rhianu’s brother
Niawen • NEE a win: (fair beauty) Ahnalyn’s mother
Nimue • NIM oo ay (memory) Siana’s dragon
Owein • OH wine: (born of yew) Ahnalyn’s father
Pwyll • POO uhl: (sense) Brenin’s grandfather
Rhianu • hree AN oo (maiden) Meuric’s sister
Seren • SER en: (star) Ahnalyn’s dragon
Siana • she AH na (God is gracious) Meuric’s mother
Sieffre • SHEF ree: (God’s peace) King of Talfryn
Taliesin • tal YESH in: (shining brow) Tegyd
Trahaearn • TRah HH ERN (very iron-like) Einion’s dragon
Urbgen • URB gen (privileged birth) dragon in Gorlassar
Urien • yuw REE ahn (privileged birth) Catrin’s brother
Places of Importance
Caer • KIRE (fortress) capital of Morvith
Cynwrig • KEEN rik: (high hill) capital of Talfryn
Delyth • DEL ith (pretty) Tegyd village
Mount Eirwen • IRE wen (snow white mountain)
Gorlassar • gor LASS sar (higher than the sky) dragon realm
Hyledd • HY led: (estuary) capital of Terrin
Islwyn • ISS loo win: (below the grove) capital of Rolant
Mared • MAH red: (pearl) capital of Gorlassar
Morvith • MOR vith (great victory) Meuric’s homeland
Rolant • RO lant (famous land) Lord Caedryn’s realm
Talfryn • TAL v rin (high hill) King Sieffre’s realm
Terrin • TER rin (earth-man) Lord Brenin’s realm
Uffern • OO fern (inferno) Cysgod’s prison, volcanic mountain
Races and Species
Cysgod • CYS god (shadow) The Dark Master, the First Evil.
Dark Emrys • Half-emrys who have transitioned and carry only darkness.
Deian • DY an (beloved) The Master of Light, the Creator.
Eilian • ei LE an (second, a moment in time) The little people who are great explorers in the time before the Great Cataclysm. In the time after the cataclysm, the little people live in the treetops of the Great Forest. They stand no more than three to four feet tall. Industrious by nature. Their community consists of a vast network of bridges connecting each hut, which is nestled against the tree’s trunk and is accessed from the depths of the forest by lifts run on pulleys. Seldom are a silent people.
Emrys • EM ris (immortal) Immortals who dwell in Gorlassar. Beings of light and protectors of the dragons. Also called Child of Light and Son or Daughter of Light. Can be dark half-emrys or light half-emrys.
Gwri • (bloom) Winged fey who bloom from flowers.
Half-emrys • Beings who have mortal and immortal parentage. They contain darkness and light and have the ability to wield both energies.
Humans • Mortals who possess scant amounts of light, traceable only by a powerful emrys.
Star fishers • Gnomes who catch starlight and spread hope.
Tegyd • TEH gid (beauty of a doe) Half-deer and half-humans who are the guardians of the trees. Their homes once were in the Great Forest, but as the trees grew together, the tegyd moved underground among the vast caverns the enchanted roots formed. A few tegyd are clairvoyant while others are vague and aloof. They are magical beings who possess some gifts, such as the gift of healing and the ability to enhance nature, as seen in the astounding growth of the Great Forest.
Find out how the chronicles all begin with Niawen’s Story in
Fallen Emrys
Even the purest can fall.
In a peaceful world of seemingly perfect people, Niawen defends the dragons’ paradise from the evils outside their realm. Throughout her life, she was taught that humans would corrupt her inner light and that entering the mortal world means exile.
Mortified when her chosen life mate doesn’t return her feelings, she flees to the mortal realms, despite all the warnings. Her growing affections for the humans are crushed by a new enemy—death, and Niawen willingly defiles her pure light in battle to avenge her friends.
As she fights to overcome her corruption, she faces a sobering truth—the humans she loves will die. Niawen must find the one emrys who came into the mortal world thousands of years ago, or risk facing eternity alone.
Fallen Emrys, a paranormal romantic fantasy, is the prequel to the Chronicles of the Half-Emrys.
About the Author
Lisa Rector is a Maryland native and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She married her high school sweetheart for time and all eternity in the Washington D.C. Temple after she fell in love with his endless sense of humor. Lisa enjoyed a short stint as a labor and delivery nurse before becoming
a stay-at-home mom for her two beautiful daughters. In addition to her newfound love of writing, her passions are gardening, yoga, and her faith in Jesus Christ. Her favorite delights are decadent homemade cakes, cookies, or brownies—never store-bought. Check out perpetualgardener.blogspot.com or Author Lisa Rector on Facebook.
If you enjoyed my novel, please feel free to write a review on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you!
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
